Step-free access

Navin Shah: The Mayor’s Transport Strategy has a target to provide step-free access to 40% of the Tube network by 2022. Will this target be met, and what else is being done to improve the accessibility of London’s transport network?

The Mayor: I am committed to making additional stations step-free across London’s transport network.
There are now more than 200 step-free stations across the Transport for London (TfL) network. These include 79 Tube stations, 60 Overground stations, 25 TfL Rail stations and all DLR stations and Tram stops. All piers have step-free access and newer river boats have dedicated spaces for wheelchair users and accessible toilet facilities.
A further 11 London Underground stations were due to become step-free this year. TfL is following the Government’s clear guidance and actively advising for only critical workers to travel where absolutely necessary. To support this, TfL issued a temporary Safe Stop on all project sites – including step-free access work – with the only exception of essential maintenance to protect the operational safety of the network. This is to ensure the safety of construction and project teams and also to further reduce the number of people travelling on the public transport network.
TfL remains fully committed to making the network even more accessible for all Londoners. Over 95 per cent of London’s bus stops are accessible following an £18m investment and all TfL’s buses are wheelchair accessible and fitted with ramps. Buses are also able to ‘kneel’ to pavement level to make it easier for older or disabled passengers to board.
TfL hosts bus days at local garages, giving older people the opportunity to meet with drivers, share their experiences and increase their confidence with bus travel. TfL is also launching new Disability Equality Training for drivers, which will include information on how to better support older people to travel safely and easily on their bus. All frontline London Underground staff undertake Disability Equality Training to improve customer service and remove barriers to travel.
The provision of accessibility schemes like ‘Please Offer Me a Seat’ will continue and TfL is committed to continuing its ‘Look Up’ campaign, encouraging customers to be aware of those around them who may require a seat.
TfL works closely with disabled people’s organisations like Guide Dogs and RNIB to ensure visually impaired customers are considered throughout its policy and decision-making process. Recently this has included their early involvement in the development of our Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) on buses.
TfL is using innovative, lower-cost ways to make the network more accessible. This includes improving its turn-up-and-go service and online accessibility information, and also through the provision of open data sources, such as sharing the number of steps at stations.

Cycle Hire

Leonie Cooper: Many residents in my constituency would like to use cycle hire schemes to travel around, especially those that aren’t served well by the bus or train network. Can you tell me what further plans TfL has to extend the network of bicycles for hire and how local people might apply to get docking stations in their area?

The Mayor: London’s Cycle Hire scheme has been a huge success since its launch in 2010, with more than 87 million hires and docking station numbers growing from 315 to 781 today.
Transport for London (TfL) constantly reviews demand and supply across the network to review if new opportunities are arising. While TfL does not currently have plans to expand the Santander Cycles scheme in Wandsworth and Merton, it is always happy to explore opportunities to bring the benefits of cycle hire to as many people as possible and would be pleased to speak to the borough if local funding was available.

Cost of Met Police travel concession

Onkar Sahota: How much did it cost Transport for London to provide the Free Travel Concession for Metropolitan Special Constabulary in each year 2017, 2018 and 2019?

The Mayor: Free travel for police officers from the Metropolitan Police, the British Transport Police and the City of London Police is a longstanding arrangement in recognition of the critical security work they do. Whilst some trips are made for commuting, many are made in the line of law enforcement work they do. The total number of journeys is insubstantial and Transport for London has never put a value on it.